A FLOCK of frocks and fascinators converged on Traralgon’s Glenview Park for Ladies’ Day on Saturday, where about 2300 patrons turned out for a stellar spring season opener.
Chelsea Zwierlein bested the field in the fashion stakes ahead of Kellie Collinson in breath-taking black and white, but there were several shades of grey pervading the results on the other side of the barrier on a good three surface.
Long shot Miss Procyon ($26) took out race one for trainer Ian Hutchins before top jockey Peter Mertens guided Bally Tambo ($6) home in the 1150-metre maiden plate in the following race.
The bookies did not have it all their way as the Mick Price-trained Cottonwood Grove ($3.20) saluted in the third, followed by each way claims Hollywood Gothic and Unique Dream.
Renowned rider Darren Gauci rode Yuka Joy to victory in the 1900m race five handicap for Terence Ahern.
The final race on the program saw $7 outsider Delightful Tess claim line honours in its second win at Traralgon this year with Ryan Plumb cracking the whip.
The threeyear-old has shown a penchant for Glenview Park, winning at the venue in September on a heavy nine, while running indifferently elsewhere.
Peter Gelagotis-trained Sweet Home Chicago crossed the line seventh in the curtain closer.
Latrobe Valley Racing Club chair Brian Quigley said Ladies’ Day was a hit with a well-behaved crowd, which was slightly up on last year’s numbers.
“I was very, very pleased with the crowd and everything went extremely well; the racing was good, the Fashions on the Field went off… the crowd was in a good happy mood all day, we had no incidents at all,” he said.
“It was a really good day’s racing… it couldn’t have gone off better.”
The club’s next meeting will be held on Friday, 15 November.
